Nomads held by Flint in frustrating derby stalemate

New Year’s Eve saw The Nomads play out a goalless draw with local rivals Flint Town in the final Cymru Premier fixture of 2022.

Form
The Nomads came into this game in remarkable form, having recently reached an ongoing seventeen game unbeaten streak which has now extended to eighteen following today’s result with Flint. The Nomads’ festive schedule got underway with a 3-0 win over Aberystwyth and a tense 1-1 draw with league leaders TNS before Neil Gibson’s side grabbed a boxing day win in part one of the Flintshire Derby thanks to goals from Joe Malkin and George Horan.

As for The Silkmen, a first Cymru Premier win since the end of October saw them move further away from the drop zone following a poor run of results including losses to Newtown, Bala and that boxing day defeat to The Nomads.

Team News
Neil Gibson made three changes to his side as George Horan and Ben Nash were both out with suspensions, John Disney captained the side and came into the defence with Josh Williams and Ryan Harrington both returning to the starting eleven. Mike Hayes was also handed a start ahead of Paulo Mendes who was named on the bench along with the academy players of Josh Watkin, Leon Bennett, Luca Hogan, Jonathan Sodhi and Jordan Pownall.

Flint manager Lee Fowler made four changes with the quartet of Ben Hughes, Larnell Cole, Jack Hindle and Bobby Beaumont-Broadhead all coming into the starting eleven.

The First Half
The hosts came close to taking the lead inside 10 minutes as a wide free kick just outside the area gave Larnell Cole the chance to cause a threat. Cole’s free kick was swung in towards goal but a strong punch from Andy Firth cleared the danger.

Danny Holmes nearly caught out Flint goalkeeper Harry Allen as his long ball on the halfway line floated towards goal, however Allen was alert and safely caught the ball to keep the score level.

The same event happened again 10 minutes later as Holmes’ cross turned shot, this time from a wider position, looked to be nestling into the corner but Allen was there once more to deny the defender.

Callum Bratley was finding joy down the left hand side and caused trouble for the Flint backline as he cut inside onto his stronger right foot and drifted inside the area before unleashing a thunderous strike which Allen could only parry into the path of Mike Hayes but the hosts did enough to scamper the ball away just in time to avoid going a goal down.

With just a minute to go until half time, Flint thought they had took the lead after Ben Hughes put the ball in the back of the net but the linesman’s flag on the near side was raised for offside and it remained goalless.

The Second Half
Nomads didn’t take long to pose an attacking threat after the second half got underway. Callum Bratley spotted Josh Williams in space on the edge of the box which saw the youngster take aim with a low drive looking for the bottom corner but a diving stop from Allen denied him.

It was then Nomads who had a goal disallowed after Aeron Edwards’ low ball across the face of goal was bundled in by Mike Hayes but Hayes’ collision with the goalkeeper saw the referee award Flint a free kick.

The chances were coming thick and fast as Nomads continued to apply amounts of pressure onto their rivals. Callum Morris skipped away from Larnell Cole in the final third and shifted onto his right foot, searching for the top corner but his effort was inches wide of the target.

Callum Bratley latched onto a through ball down the left hand side and although the midfielder went for goal from a tight angle, a great amount of power on the strike forced Allen to make a diving save to tip the effort away.

Both sides then made their first changes of the afternoon with The Nomads introducing Paulo Mendes in place of Mike Hayes and Flint bringing on Liam Ellis to replace Jack Hindle up front.

A goalmouth scramble inside the area almost saw Josh Williams give Nomads the lead as the ball trickled into the path of Williams who looked to slide in and poke the ball home but a deflection took the ball away from goal and over the top.

The Silkmen then had a glorious opportunity to snatch a late breakthrough as Flint won the ball back inside the area, seeing it fall to Liam Ellis who had the time and space to pick his spot but his effort was straight at Firth and the goalkeeper wasn’t fazed by the attempt.

It was all Nomads as we reached an additional four minutes of stoppage time and there was a great chance as Ryan Harrington’s inviting ball across the six yard box somehow went through a number of bodies and out of play which was the last action of the match meaning neither side were able to find the back of the net with Nomads and Flint going home with a point each.

Next Fixture
Nomads now turn their attention to next weekend where they will travel to Latham Park to take on Newtown, who are on an impressive run of form, having won eight out of their last nine fixtures. The match will take place on Saturday 7th January with a 2:30pm scheduled kick off time.

Match Photos

Match Report by Adam Angerer